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Tornado Warning Sends Everyone into School's Basement

Patients, faculty, students and staff were evacuated to the School's basement during this afternoon's tornado warning.

Many used the opportunity to talk to colleagues.

Others sat on the floor and leaned against walls and used their mobile devices to check the weather.

Ann Arbor, MI — May 12, 2014 — Dozens of patients, faculty, students and staff headed into the basement at the University of Michigan School of Dentistry when tornado warnings were issued for Washtenaw County.

Shortly before 4:00 p.m, Dorothy Smith-Fesl, the School’s facilities manager, got on the School's loudspeaker to announce the warning issued by the Weather Service. Patients who were being treated in clinics at the time along with faculty and staff moved into the School’s basement for safety. Around 4:10 p.m., she advised the tornado warning had been extended. An all clear was issued around 5:15 p.m. and students, patients and faculty returned to the clinics to finish treatment. Others were able to leave the building for their commute home.